Evaluation of pharmacologic therapies accompanied by behavioural therapy on smoking cessation success: a prospective cohort study in Turkey

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study is to compare the rate of smoking cessation in the first month, third month, sixth month, first-year, and second year among those who quit smoking following different pharmacological and behavioural therapies administered at the Selcuk University’s Smoking Cessation Clinic in Turkey.

METHODS: In this study, 3322 people who presented to the clinic in order to quit smoking were advised one of the most suitable medical treatments (varenicline, bupropion, NRT) accompanied by behaviour therapy after their health queries and examinations were made and Fagerström scores were evaluated. Smoking cessation patients were followed up clinically and by making calls after smoking cessation.

RESULTS: The smoking cessation success rate in the cases using varenicline in the first month was 63.5% (766/1206), in the third month 46.8% (548/1170), in the sixth month 32.1% (386/ 1201), first year 25.6% (298/1163), and 19.9% (211/1059) in the second year. The success rate in the cases using bupropion in the first month was 49.9% (559/1120), in the third month 35.6% (405/1138), in the sixth month 26.4% (319/1210), first year 21.9% (261/1192), and 16.0% (133/832) in the second year. The success rate in the cases using NRT was 53.2% (25/ 47) in the first-month, 24.3% (9/37) in the third-month, and 27.3% (6/22) in the sixth-month assessments. The rates of smoking cessation in the cases using varenicline and behavioural therapy in the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th, and 24th month were significantly higher compared to the cases using bupropion and behavioural therapy (p = .000, p = .000, p = .008, p = .034, and p = .028; respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: It has been observed in this study that varenicline as a smoking cessation drug is better tolerated than other medications and it seems to be more effective.